New 'yellow folders' aid planning for end of life care

New 'yellow folders' aid planning for end of life care

Distinctive new ‘Thinking Ahead Yellow Folders’ for advance care (end of life) planning are being launched at the Dying Matters event at The Forum, Norwich, on 15 May (part of Dying Matters Week, which runs from 14-20 May). The week aims to place the importance of talking about dying, death and bereavement firmly on the national and local agenda.

The folders are used by health and social care professionals across Norfolk and Waveney to support conversations with patients approaching the end of their lives about their treatment and preferences.

The folders will contain a leaflet to explain what advance care planning is and outlining the kinds of decisions people may want to make, as well as a form on which they can record their preferences about their treatment and any palliative care they may need.

In addition, a leaflet entitled What help is available will be distributed separately, explaining what standards of end of life care people should expect, and where people can go for help and advice.

The documents have been revised as part of the Norfolk and Waveney STP (Sustainability and Transformation Partnership) Palliative Care Collaborative Group, which found that while there has been much good practice in palliative and end of life care, there has been variability in advance care planning and use of the yellow folders.

Speaking about the revamped information, Pam Fenner, Chair of the Norfolk and Waveney Palliative and End of Life Care Collaborative, said: “We as individuals tend to want to prepare for life events, in particular weddings and births. What we are less good at is planning for our end of life and palliative care.

“The Thinking Ahead Yellow Folders help us to tackle this daunting task and can point us to places and people that can help us.

“Please take this opportunity to begin your plans and share this with family friends and loved ones”.